The Wait to Nowhere: When a Crisis Goes Untreated

7/11/2023

A really powerful, emotional investigation into issues plaguing the pediatric mental health system: specifically, the lack of a robust pediatric mental health system in this county. Saw it with a panel discussion from the filmmaker and local mental health providers—it’s also been screened for multiple health care organizations and government officials, and it needs to be seen by more. The filmmakers sat down with the parents of pediatric psych ED patients, as well as adult former patients, hospital staff and administrators, and a bipartisan pair of lawmakers. The key message: an underdeveloped system forces children who need intense psychiatric support to languish in ERs around the country, waiting for placement in what may only be a few long term treatment beds in an entire state. It’s